Children's FAQ

Registration for all events within a given month begins on the first day and time of the month that the library is open. Typically, this is the first of the month at 9am.

Exceptions:

• In January the library is closed for New Year’s Day, so registration begins on January 2.
• If the first day of the month falls on a Sunday, registration will begin at 12noon.

This timing accommodates anyone who may not have access to a computer at that time. They can call or visit the library to register.

Check our Footnotes newsletter or the latest Children’s Department Program Calendar to confirm the opening day/time for each month’s registration.

Each registration entry is for one spot in an event. If you have multiple children that want to attend, each child must be registered individually to ensure a spot.

The registration software can sometimes make it difficult to register multiple children for an event. If certain fields have the same information, it may think you are entering a duplicate registration. If this happens to you, here are some things to try:

• Leave the first field for a library card number (without a red asterisk symbol) blank.
• Enter a different first name (this could be a nickname, initial, or your child’s name).

If the software continues to reject an additional registration, please give the Children’s Desk a call at 847-438-3840 and we will be happy to assist from our end.

Please respect the listed age or grade ranges. Programs are planned with a developmental stage, skill level, and/or ability in mind. Children who are too young for an activity may get frustrated and/or require extensive staff assistance, as well as detract from the enjoyment of the older, age-appropriate attendees. Children who are too old may be bored or their presence can be intimidating to the younger, age-appropriate attendees.

For events that require an adult to be present, siblings are welcome to attend as observers, but not as participants.

You can skip the first request for a library card number. This is a default question built into the software and is not required. The second space for a library card is required and the one library staff will use to confirm cardholder status for events that fill up.

We never share any of your or your child’s personal information with any other person or organization. It is solely used for keeping track of event registration and attendance.

We always hope to accommodate any child who is interested in attending our events regardless of residency status. However, if a program fills quickly, it is our responsibility to serve the resident taxpayers of the Ela Area Public Library District first. This is why we ask for library card numbers. If an event becomes full, non-Ela cardholders will receive an email (to the address provided in their registration) with notification that they have been moved to the waitlist.

For events which do not require registration, no library card is needed to attend.

Most events will offer the chance to add your name to a waitlist if all spots are filled. We encourage you to register for any events you are interested in, even if there is a waitlist. In some cases, cancelations or other changes will allow us to accommodate additional registrations. And while we might not be able to accommodate your child for the current program, our waitlists help us gauge interest as we plan for the future. We may be able to add a second session for an event if there is enough interest, or at least plan multiple sessions for similar events in future months.

If your registration status changes from “waitlist” to “registered”, you will receive an automated email (to the address you provided in your registration) as soon as the change occurs. If you think you might have missed the message, or need to update your contact info, please call the Children’s Department at 847-438-3840 and we will be happy to assist.

If your child is unable to attend an event they are registered for, please call the library (847-438-3840) to let us know—even if it is last minute. Many times, we are able to offer the spot to the next person on the waitlist.

Please call the Children’s Department at 847-438-3840 and we will be happy to assist. If you are unable to successfully register for a program, please contact us as soon as possible to ensure that we can help you register before the program fills up.